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Best decking paint and decking stain 2024
We've found the best decking paints and decking stains to protect your decking for the most amount of time, and look the best.
During our tests, some decking stains start to show signs of wear and tear after only a few weeks. However, the best decking stains looked as good as new and repelled water even at the end of an intense period of testing.
Decking paints have proved more hardy in our durability tests, and there is less visible difference between the best decking paints so far.
Below we reveal the best decking stains, and how the decking paints we've tested have fared so far.
The best decking paints
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best decking paint test results below.
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| Decking paint | Durability | Wash resistance | Ease of application | Number of colours | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Very easy | ||||
| Excellent | Easy | ||||
| Excellent | Very easy | ||||
| Excellent | Very easy |
Date tested: February 2024. Page last checked: February 2024. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The decking paints we tested
All the decking paints we're testing are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best decking paints from our tests.
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Liberon Extreme Decking Paint
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Need to know 10 sq m coverage per litre, leave 8 hours between coats, 48 hours drying time, colours available: light silver, dark silver, medium brown, light brown, gun metal
Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Paint
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Need to know 10 sq m coverage per litre, leave 4 hours between coats, 48 hours drying time, colours available: bramble, charcoal, chestnut, deep blue, warm stone, English oak, slate, willow, sage, blackcurrant
Also check out our pick of the best fence paint.
Trade Paints Anti-Slip Decking Paint
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Need to know 13 sq m coverage per litre, leave 4 hours between coats, 16 hours drying time, colours available: more than 100 shades see full list at paints4trade.com.
V33 Colour Guard Decking Paint
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Need to know 10 sq m coverage per litre, 16-24 hours drying time, colours available: light silver, dark silver, gun metal
The best decking stains
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best decking stain test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results below.
| Decking stains | Durability | Wash resistance | Ease of application | Number of colours | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Excellent | Average | |||
| Poor | Excellent | Easy | |||
| Poor | Average | Average | |||
| Poor | Poor | Easy |
Date tested: February 2024. Page last checked: February 2024. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The decking stains we tested
All the decking stains we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best decking stains from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results below.
Cuprinol Anti-Slip Decking Stain
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Need to know 12 sq m coverage per litre, dry in 4 hours, colours available: American mahogany, black ash, Boston teak, cedar fall, city stone, golden maple, Hampshire oak, silver birch, urban slate, Vermont green, natural, natural oak
No Nonsense Anti-Slip Quick Drying Decking Stain
Available from Screwfix
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Need to know 10 sq m coverage per litre, dry in 1-2 hours, colours available: slate, dark mahogany, clear, ash, silver birch, teak, country oak
Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Stain
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Need to know 13 sq m coverage per litre, rainproof in 90 minutes, colours available: walnut, cedar, charcoal, country oak, dark oak, medium oak, stone grey, slate, rich teak, blackcurrant, rich mahogany, sage, willow
Wickes Decking Stain
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Need to know 12 sq m coverage per litre, dry in 4 hours, colours available: carbon grey, coal, natural oak, nearly natural
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How we test decking paints and stains
All of the decking paint and decking stain is applied to pieces of decking according to the manufacturers instructions and then left exposed to the elements over the winter.
In addition to this each decking paint and stain is tested for:
- Durability At regular intervals over the winter, each piece of deck is trampled on and roughly scuffed. Decking paints stand up well to this rough treatment, but some decking stains start to wear off after only a few weeks of repeated testing.
- Waterproofing At regular intervals over the winter, each decking paint and stain is checked for waterproofing to see if water still beads on the surface of the deck, rather than soaking into the wood. Most decking paints and stains will remain water resistant after one winter.
- Weathering After a winter outside in tough conditions, each piece of decking is examined for wear and tear.
- Ease of application Each paint and stain is assessed for how easy or difficult it is to achieve a nice finish. Some decking paint and stains look thin and streaky after even two coats, but the best will make your decking look fantastic after just one coat.
We regularly revisit the decking paints and decking stains on sale to see if there are any more popular versions that need testing and when we find them we do.
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Decking paint vs decking stain: key differences
Decking paint is a bit more durable than decking stain, but it's also much more of a faff when you do need to replace the paint. These are the other key pros and cons of each:
Decking paint
- Pros Available in almost any colour you like, lower maintenance than decking stain and has a longer life expectancy, thicker finish can hide flaws in the wood, can be easier to clean
- Cons Covers the grain of the wood, can look worse than stain when it starts to deteriorate, old paint needs to be totally removed before repainting – which is a big job
Decking stain
- Pros Easy to apply to wood and takes less skill, the wood grain is still visible, more natural look, further coats can be applied with less preparation
- Cons Doesn't cover flaws or cracks in the wood, requires more regular maintenance – you might have to repaint it every year or two
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How to paint a deck
- Old bare decking is likely to have a build-up of dirt, dust, mould and algae on it, so you'll need to properly clean it first with a specific deck cleaner.
- An old painted deck will need even more preparation. You'll need to remove any loose paint and lightly sand the deck to prepare the surface before you can apply more paint.
- Before applying new decking stain or paint, make sure the decking is clean, free of dust, and dry.
- Next apply the paint or stain according to the instructions. Most recommend at least two or three coats, with a four-hour drying time between applications.
- Use a pad applicator for the quickest results, and a brush around the edges. Seal the ends of the wood if they're exposed.
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